All tag results for defense

Leonardo DiCaprio, along with fellow advocates Scarlett Johansson, Megan Fox, and Ke$ha, among others, have teamed up with WildAid, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Humane Society of the United States to bring attention to dwindling shark populations worldwide.

The celebs slew of others have written a letter to the California State Senate supporting Assembly Bill 376, which would ban the sale of shark fins in California.

The letter said:

"The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has concluded that a third of shark species are now threatened with extinction of some kind. And recent estimates state that up to 73 million sharks are killed each year for use in shark fin soup and other products. Traditionally shark fin was affordable only to the elite, and consequently the issue of decimation of species was not a concern. But with the explosion of the world’s
population, and an increasing number of wealthy consumers, this can no longer be considered true, as has been evidenced by the decimation of shark populations worldwide. Despite fisheries attempts at regulation, the
inhumane practice of finning continues unabated too, as does the illegal capture of sharks from marine reserves and sovereign waters.

We urge you to support AB 376 and join us in protecting sharks from extinction."

He might not look like the most prized pet but this lovable Iraqi donkey won the hearts of so many soldiers, one retired Marine spent months and thousands of dollars organising for 'Smoke' to head to America.

It cost $40,000 and required countless bureaucratic obstacles, but thanks to the hard work of now-retired Marine Col. John Folsom, the brown-eyed donkey is heading to Nebraska.

The donkey became a mascot for a group of Marines in Iraq's Anbar nearly three years ago when he wandered into a former Iraqi air base occupied by American troops.

Marines took care of him until 2009 when they left the area, but they turned Smoke over to a sheik who promised to care for him.

Folsom used to walk Smoke daily and had formed a bond with the animal. It didn't seem right that Smoke was left behind.

Folsom saw the donkey for the first time in years Saturday when he arrived in New York to transport him to his new home in Omaha. By Saturday afternoon they had driven through Baltimore and were on their way to Warrenton, Va., for meet-and-greet with some fans.

Male spotted bowerbirds, were originally thought to mimic the sounds of predatory birds as a defense mechanism, but recent research suggests that are actually learning sounds heard while under stress.

The new study found that although the birds mimicked calls from predatory birds, they accounted for only about 20 percent of their vocalizations. The rest were imitation of the calls of aggressive “bully” species, or less aggressive birds in distress. The bowerbirds mimicked alarm calls, predator calls, and mobbing calls, the cries birds make when ganging up on a predator.

The researchers speculate that when bowerbirds are distressed their learning capacity increases, and therefore pick up vocalizations they hear while under distress, either from attackers, bullies, or freaked out neighbors.

Actress Taraji P. Henson, famous for roles in such films as Hustle & Flow, Baby Boy, I Can Do Bad All by Myself, The Karate Kid, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, stripped down for PETA to raise awareness for animals being beaten, tortured and skinned alive for a silly fur coat.

Henson said she had no issue with wearing fur until she saw a documentary that revealed how animals on fur farms are skinned alive.

"Before I saw that documentary … I would wear fur, but I saw this documentary, and I was riveted. I cried. … Could you imagine somebody ripping your hair out, while you're still awake, fully conscious? It's ridiculous, for the sake of fashion."

We totally agree, Taraji! We're so happy you took part in this campaign and are raising awareness for defenseless animals!